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Model: | TFTF |
Category: | Passive Components |
Suggested Retail Price: | $39.99- $139.99 |
Description: | Teflon Film & Tin Foil Reference Grade Capacitors |
Manufacturer URL: | V-Cap |
Model Picture: | View |
Review by koa on December 19, 2006 at 13:55:23 IP Address: 129.33.1.37 | Add Your Review for the TFTF |
I replaced the original Auricap coupling caps in my Consonance Droplet CD player with Dynamicap. While the the Dynamicap was better than the Auricap in certain aspects (better extension in the extremes and more detailed), it was worse in certain aspects (not as full-bodied and sounded a little hard in the highs). Overall I thought the difference between the Auricaps and the Dynamicaps were a matter of preference. I called Steve Huntley, of Great Northern Sound Co., for advice on which caps to try, and he recommended the V-Caps. While I had never heard of the V-Caps, I took Steve's advise and ordered 4 of the .1uf 600V teflons and 4 of the 2.0 250V OIMP (space limitations prevented me from getting the Teflon or the 600V OIMP).I couldn't believe the difference the V-Caps made right out of the box. They were much more detailed, much fuller sounding, much more air, and much more smoother sounding than the Dynamicaps. The V-caps had better articulation in the bass and instruments and voices were much more realistic. I have burned them in for 200 hours now, and they have only gotten better with time. They give you that reach out and touch the performers feeling. I have dabbled in many different caps but none of them can touch the V-Caps with a 10ft pole.
Product Weakness: | None that I can think of. |
Product Strengths: | Detailed, full-bodied, smooth, lively, excellent soundstaging and imaging. |
Associated Equipment for this Review: | |
Amplifier: | Mactone MA300 Amplifier |
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): | Mactone X21 Preamplifier |
Sources (CDP/Turntable): | Simon Yorke S7 turntable and Opus Consonance Droplet 5.0 CD Player |
Speakers: | Beauhorn Virtuoso with a pair of REL Stantor Subs |
Cables/Interconnects: | Nonotec Interconnects and Speaker Cables |
Music Used (Genre/Selections): | Jazz, Classical, Pop, Reggae, Various genres of African Music |
Room Size (LxWxH): | 25ft x 16ft x 8ft |
Room Comments/Treatments: | RPG Diffusors, Room Tunes, Argent Lens |
Time Period/Length of Audition: | 2 weeks |
Other (Power Conditioner etc.): | Sound Application |
Type of Audition/Review: | Home Audition |
Follow Ups:
Interesting about Huntley at Great Northern, since he was a Cardas cap guy (in the smaller, non-PS values) and still apparently has an alliance w/ them. An endorsement from him I'd take fairly seriously, being a past customer.The pricing is still throat-choking. My Dynalab tuner would run $800 +/- for the output couplers+bypass caps alone. The burn-in time always puts me off big time on anything, due to the life expectancy charts of someone my age. If you're deep into tweaking or gear changing, you will *always* be waiting for something to burn in; which is a non-starter for me.
and a good one to keep in mind.....no matter where you are on the life expectancy charts (who knows about that anyway?).
I still love the V-Caps I've got. But I think I value your perspective more.
Thanks.
An expert is someone who knows no more than you but is from out of town.
-Mark Twain
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I agree with every word. From the first moment a v-cap replaces an auricap (or similar) its quite an experience..I had a similar experience with Soniccap Platinums lately. I havent compared v-caps and sonicap platinums directly in the same position/circuit. But have recently replaced the coupling caps in my phonostage with Soniccap Platinums and have been extremely happy with the improvement. It seems to be on the same level as a v-cap upgrade, but I'd be grasping to do an honest/fair comparisons without a direct swap in the same position.
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Hello Koa,
I have used hundreds of the V-Caps over the past 2 years and can honestly say that you are still in for a treat after another 200 hours or so of breakin. I own and use daily the very first amp that I installed the V-Cap Teflons in and would say I have well over 1500 hours on it. Teflon takes a while to fully break in but there is a noticable difference between fresh and 400 hours.
This is not just a matter of getting use to teh sound as I have built many of these same amps making it easy to compare a fresh unit with my fully burned in unit. The differences are not subtle.
Let us know how things are going after more time.
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